NFL Draft What If: What if the Bengals trade Trey Hendrickson for draft capital?

In this five-part series, I ask “what if?” and explore different draft scenarios for the Cincinnati Bengals’ 2025 NFL Draft class.

In all, I will do 15 mock drafts and use this as an avenue for discussing 97 different prospects.

“Time. Space. Reality. It’s more than a linear path… I am your guide through these vast new realities.” – The Watcher – What If…?

Let’s go ahead and get this thing rolling.

I hate this idea, but let’s talk about it anyway. What if the Bengals traded Trey Hendrickson for draft capital? What could they get? How might that impact their draft strategy?

Trey Hendrickson to the Commanders for a 1st and a 7th

17. OG Tyler Booker 6’5” 321 lbs Alabama

29. DE Nic Scourton 6’3” 257 lbs Texas A&M

49. DT Tyleik Williams 6’3” 334 lbs Ohio State

81. S Jaylen Reed 6’0” 211 lbs Penn State

119. CB Cobee Bryant 6’0” 180 lbs Kansas

153. DE Sai’vion Jones 6’5” 280 lbs LSU

193. OT Ajani Cornelius 6’5” 310 lbs Oregon

245. RB Phil Mafah 6’1” 234 lbs Clemson

Now with two picks in hand, the Bengals improve both their offensive and defensive line in Round 1.

First, they take Alabama guard Tyler Booker. The team captain in Tuscaloosa, is widely seen as the best guard in the draft. He is extremely consistent. He doesn’t miss many games, nor does he have many peaks or valleys in his play. He anchors well in the pass game and gets drive in the pass game. The Bengals find an immediate starter with Booker between Ted Karras and Orlando Brown.

Then Texas A&M defensive end Nic Scourton. Something weird is going on in College Station. They have a ton of talented defensive linemen, but no one seems to live up to their ability. Scourton has an explosive first step that helped him total 10 sacks at Purdue a year ago. Then after he transferred to Texas A&M for more exposure, his sack numbers were chopped in half. He is excellent against the run and can get his sack production back up in the NFL. Without Hendrickson, Scourton will compete for a starting role immediately.

In Round, 2 they stick with defensive line adding Ohio State’s Tyleik Williams to their interior. Williams is an unmovable object who does a great job against double teams. He can also disrupt the passing game with his bull rush up the middle. Expect Al Golden to have a plan for getting Williams involved early on.

Continuing to improve defensively, they move to the secondary, selecting Penn State’s Jaylen Reed in Round 3, Reed is a versatile safety and a great value at this point in the draft. He is a physical tackler and a talented blitzer. He makes good reads and plays well in both underneath and deep-field zones. Reed will challenge Geno Stone for a starting role in the secondary.

In Round 4, it’s Cobee Bryant for the Bengals. The Kansas cornerback plays with a lot of passion. He has excellent zone coverage skills and can break with speed. He has excellent ball skills to create turnovers. He is also extremely physical as a tackler. Bryant will add depth to a secondary that had a lot of question marks.

With Hendrickson out the door, the Bengals double-dip at defensive end, adding LSU’s Sai’von Jones in Round 5. Jones is an absolute menace on the field. He has long arms that are seemingly always in motion throwing one move or another. He can also play inside. Jones will compete for time on the defensive line.

In Round 6, the Bengals add to their tackle depth with Oregon’s Ajana Cornelius. Cornelius has the strength and the movement skills to make blocks in space. He will come in and compete for the swing tackle position.

With the Round 7 pick they acquired from the Commanders, the Bengals add versatility to their running back room with Clemson’s Phil Mafah. Mafah is a powerhouse and a complete change-up from Chase Brown. That could be just what makes this a genius move. Mafah’s physical style will provide a change of pace for the Bengals’ run game and throw off the opposing defense.

Interestingly in this scenario the Bengals actually traded Hendrickson FOR his replacement, which is rarely how these things actually pan out. They were also able to pick up a 7th. Ironically, they didn’t have a Round 7 pick because they traded it for a running back. Now they use this pick on a running back.

Trey Hendrickson to the Jaguars for a 2nd and a 3rd

17. DE Mike Green 6’3” 251 lbs Marshall

36. DT Kenneth Grant 6’4” 331 lbs Michigan

49. OT Josh Conerly Jr. 6’5” 311 lbs Oregon

70. CB Shavon Revel Jr. 6’2” 194 lbs East Carolina

81. OG Miles Frazier 6’6” 317 lbs LSU

119. LB Jeffrey Bassa 6’1” 232 lbs Oregon

153. RB Bhayshul Tuten 5’9” 206 lbs Virginia Tech

193. S Jonas Sanker 6’0” 206 lbs Virginia

The Bengals needed more pass rush even before trading Trey Hendrickson, but with him gone, a defensive end was their clear need in Round 1.

Mike Green is excellent for this team. He had a monster season at Marshall with 17 sacks. Green is not a one-trick pony. He has a wide array of pass-rush moves utilizing both speed and power. He is also adept at stopping the run and shows great tenacity running down plays from behind.

The Bengals hit the jackpot with their added 2nd-round pick as Michigan’s Kenneth Grant falls out of Round 1 and right into their laps. Grant is a rare physical specimen who has excellent athleticism in addition to massive size. The Bengals are getting a real weapon. A nose tackle who can have a genuine impact in the passing game and eat up two gaps.

With their second 2nd-round pick, the Bengals take Josh Conerly, an offensive tackle out of Oregon. Conerly is an excellent pass blocker with fantastic kick step and fierce hands. As a run blocker he is extremely competitive and aggressive. The Bengals will look to move him inside to guard, but retain the flexibility to use him at tackle in case of injury.

With their acquired 3rd-round selection, the Bengals go for value, selecting East Carolina’s Shavon Revel Jr. This man is pure speed. Just when you think the receiver has a step on him, he gets himself right back in the play. He is physical as a tackler and getting off of blocks. He has long arms and excels in press-man coverage. He would have never made it this far in the draft had it not been for the ACL tear that ended his 2024 season after only three games. The Bengals roll the dice on a potential star.

Later in Round 3, the Bengals go back to the offensive line, adding LSU guard Miles Frazier. Frazier hedges their bet on Conerly. He can start inside immediately. If Conerly looks good transitioning inside, this could mean the club moves on from Cordell Volson. If Conerly struggles, Volson and Frazier are the likely starters. Frazier is a phenomenal pass-blocker, particularly when it comes to sorting out stunts. He shows power in the run game getting movement and opening up lanes.

While they have done a lot to address the defensive front, the Bengals finally attack their need for a linebacker on Day 3. Not only was Oregon’s Jeffery Bassa a leader in the Ducks locker room he is arguably the most athletic linebacker in the draft. Against the run, Bassa sees gaps develop and shoots into them to make plays in the backfield. He has long arms and uses them well to disengage from blocks. He is also strong in coverage, matching up well in man and demonstrating great reads and breaks in zone. Bassa has a good chance of winning the starting job in camp, but if he doesn’t Al Golden will have a plan for getting him involved and eventually transitioning him to a starting role.

The Bengals 5th Round selection is perhaps one of the most polarizing players in the draft, Bhayshul Tuten. The former Virginia Tech running back is a game changer, but for which team? You see, he is a crazy athlete who is a threat to take it the distance at any time. He can break tackles, return kicks, and thrives in the pass game. Unfortunately, he fumbles far too often. In fact, in the time it has taken you to read this article, he just fumbled again. Tuten is certainly a risky pick, but the upside is massive. Running backs coach Justin Hill’s number one priority will be improving Tuten’s ball security. If he can earn the staff’s trust, he will work in alongside Chase Brown, adding another weapon to Joe Burrow’s elite arsenal.

In this scenario, they address the gaping hole left by trading Hendrickson immediately in the first round, then use their newly acquired draft capital to further improve the defense with potential stars at defensive tackle and cornerback.

The Bengals use their final pick on safety Jonas Sanker. Sanker a hustler and an excellent tackler who will definitely play a role on special teams while fighting for playing time on defense. The Virginia safety was predicted by many to go much higher and is a value selection at this point in the draft.

BONUS: What if the Bengals trade Germaine Pratt during the draft?

17. DE Mykel Williams 6’5” 260 lbs Georgia

49. LB Carson Schwesinger 6’3” 242 lbs UCLA

81. RB Quinshon Judkins 6’0” 221 lbs Ohio State

119. OG Jalen Rivers 6’6” 319 lbs Miami

153. DT/FB JJ Pegues 6’3” 309 lbs Ole Miss

193. CB R.J. Mickens 6’0” 199 lbs Clemson

7th Round Pick. OT John Williams 6’4” 322 lbs Cincinnati

In Round 1, the Bengals once again the Georgia Bulldogs, taking defensive end Mykel Williams. Williams is a great fit for the Bengals. He is from a major program and played in some big-time games. He meets their size thresholds and plays well against the run. As a pass-rusher, he has a nice hump move but needs to work at developing more. His production was pretty mild, never surpassing five sacks in a season.

In Round 2, the Bengals take the second true linebacker off the board with Carson Schwesinger. They can do a lot of things with Schwesinger, who is strong against the run and pass and excels as a blitzer. He has sideline-to-sideline speed and the processing to match.

They call him Carson Schwesinger, but they should call him “Carson Kismet.”

For one, it’s much easier to say. Also, getting Carson Schwesinger in Round 2 was meant to be. Not only did it give the Bengals their next starting linebacker, but it triggered a run on the position.

Danny Stutsman, Demetrius Knight, Chris Paul Jr., Smael Mondon Jr., and Jefferey Bassa all went within the next 20 selections. Suddenly, the value was no longer there at the position, and the Bengals had plenty of suitors willing to give up a 7th-round pick for their now superfluous veteran, Germaine Pratt.

In Round 3, the Bengals go with Quinshon Judkins. The Ohio State running back gives them a power option to complement Chase Brown in the backfield. He is a true north/south runner with an eye for the endzone. Judkins has largely been able to stay healthy and avoid turnovers, giving him a reasonably high floor.

The Bengals find their next starting guard on Day 3 with Miami’s Jalen Rivers. The massive Rivers is a force in the run game with a strong anchor in pass protection, He also has the ever-coveted versatility, having played all over the line during his college career.

The Bengals attempt to address the interior pass rush late with J.J. Pegues. The Ole Miss defensive tackle who moonlights as a wildcat quarterback, has surprising athletic ability for his size. He shows quickness and flexibility as a run defender and has some potential as a pass rusher as well. The Bengals will likely find a way to involve him during the season.

From JJ to RJ. The son of an NFL vet, Clemson’s RJ Mickens is a gritty player in his own right. He is a smooth athlete, but he is willing to put his nose in there and take on blocks. He makes good reads in coverage and has the skill to make a play while the ball is in the air. He has extensive experience on special teams, and that very well may be how he makes the club, but don’t rule out Mickens as an eventual starter defensively.

And with the pick they acquired by dealing Pratt, they select Cincinnati offensive tackle John Williams, who they will almost certainly put in jersey number 73, just to mess with us. Williams was a two-year starter at left tackle for the Bearcats. He’s a touch short but has the strength and athleticism to develop into a swing tackle.

Compared to the nothing they would get by cutting Germaine Pratt, I will take it.

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Be sure to check out parts one, two, three, and four of our series!